This species can be distinguished from other congeners by the following set of characters: caudal fin with 23 or 24 rays, subtruncate and longer in males; origin of the dorsal-fin posteriorly located to anal-fin origin in males and between the base of 3rd and 5th anal-fin rays in females; 2nd proximal radial of the dorsal fin located between neural spines of the 7th and 8th vertebrae in males. The body coloration of males can also be distinguished by a combination of the following characters: three dark greenish grey bars on the anterior area of the flank; dorsal fin with transverse blue stripes and the base is lined with blue spots; presence of dots and short vermiculate marks in anal fin, irregularly arranged on the anterior part of the fin; and anterior half of caudal fin with transverse rows of blue dots, posterior half with transverse blue bars (Ref. 128003).